Oil dispenser



NOV. 11, 1941. G, ARDRON 2,262,662

OIL DISPENSER.

- Filed June 28, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l j 3 19%; JJ 'TQQ i4? l/ y? l NV- 11, 1941- G. L. ARDRON 2,262,562

OIL DISPENSER Filed June 28, 1939 4 sheetssheet 2 G. L.. ARDRON QIL DISPENSER` Nov. 11, 1941.

Filed June 28, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 11, 1941. G. L.. ARDRON OIL DISPENSER Filed June 28, 1959 4 Sheecs-Sheei'I 4 :i Wwf/@mm v @zu Patented Nov. 11, 1941 Gerald L. Ardron,

Seattle, Wash., assignor to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York l Application June 28, 1939, seria1No.2s1,703

15 Claims.

The invention relates generally to the art of packaging foodstuffs and primarily seeks to provide novel means for filling measured quantities of liquid, such as cottonseed or olive oil, into containers used in the packaging of tuna fish or the like.

In the packaging of tuna nsh or the like, it is customary to include in the packaged product a quantity of oil. The oil is delivered into the containers while they are moving along toward the product filling machine or While they are passing from the filling mechanisms toward the closing devices, and it will be obvious that a desirable oil dispensingv apparatus of the nature stated must include means for assuring cooperative timing of the dispensing means with the traveling containers, as well as means for accurately controlling the amount of oil to be deposited in each container. It is an object of the present invention to efciently supply the means stated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel oil dispensing apparatus of the character stated in which is included novel means for varying the amount of oil to be deposited in each container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel rotor structure, a plurality of valve units movable with the rotor structure and individually engageable with the containers in which the oil is to be deposited and which are actuated by container contact so that no oil will be discharged from a valve unit unless a container is engaged thereby.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for feeding oil to the traveling valve units to be dispensed thereby.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature oi the invention will be more clearly understood by following the detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the 'accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical cross section illustrating the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 on Figure 1 and illustrates one form of mechanism by which movement may be imparted to the valve rotor.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 on Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a central vertical section through one of the dispensing valve members looking toward the manifold rotor. l z' Figure 6 is a fragmentary end elevation illustrating the vertical adjustment-'of the' apparatus and comprising a downward extension--ofFigure l at th-e line A-.--A.'v f v ;.;f

In the drawings I have illustrated 1a feed bed over which containers 6 are fed in suitably spaced relation by the feed dogs1 projecting upwardly `from the feed chain or conveyor; which may bel driven in any suitable manner (not shown). z,

A supporting bracket 9 is securedvtoand ex:- tends laterallyfrom the bed, andthis bracket in- 'cludes a depending 'guide columnp'ortion il equipped with an" adjustable supportin'g'screw vI'I. The screw .forms an adjustable support for .the lower end portion l2 of a standard l3f'vertically adjustablysecured tothe bracket 9'through the medium of the slot and screw equipment generally designated I4. The ystandard carries a drive mechanism housing l5 and'includes a bearing for a drive shaft I6 vto which rotation is` imparted in any suitable manner (not shown) 'for-the purpose of driving the shaft intimed relation with the feed chain 8. .f f1 1 An oil reservoir supporting bracket vI'l` is re.- movably secured as at I8 upon the housin'g'l and includes bearing portionsl I9 in which are secured laterally projected tie rods v2|), the purpose for which will later become apparent. An oil reservoir 2| is removably secured as at 22 upon the bracket I1. f I j A rotor plate 23 closes the inner facecf the housing l5 'and is equipped with three bearing hubs 24 which are equidistantly spaced about the center of said plate. Each-bearing hub24 rotatablysupports a stub shaft 25, and it will be observed by reference to" Figure 1 of the'drawings that the stub shafts project from'the `inner ends of the'hubs. Eachl shaft 25`has a valve member generally designated 26 clamped thereon as at 21, and each valve member includes a depending hollow body portion 28 vrvand an oil delivery duct portion 29, the latter 'terminating in a bearing hub 30 which is axially 'aligned with the respective stub shaft 25. I

Each duct portion 29 delivers into the interior of the respective valve member which is yclosed at the top by a ceiling web 3| and at the bottom by a circular valve cup `32 whichl is preferably threadably mounted on the valve body as at 33 lso that it can be removed and replaced at will.

Each removable valve cup 32 is provided with a circular discharge throat 34 which' is normally closed by a'flanged valvev member 35 having a .of the yvalvelmember;bearing hubs 3.0.

{ clamping ring ,58. 1

Any suitable means may be employed for im- :j

. ege' stem 36 secured theretoas at 31.. Each stem projects upwardly from the valve member which it supports and passes through a gland 38` in the respective ceiling web. A spring 39 surrounds each valve Istem between the respective ceiling web and valve member A35 and serves to yieldably hold said valve member on its seat so as to normally prevent passage. of oil through the respective` discharge throat 34. The portion of each valve stem' extended above the respective' gland 38 isthreadedk as aty 40 and provided with a v knurled head 4l. The threaded portion 40 of each valve stem is threadable in a sleeve 42 forming a part of a yoke structure 43 connectedat .its ends with two plungers 44 slidable in bores '.45 formed in the respective valve body 28. Each set of plungers f 44 extends a distance below the respective valve discharge throat 34, and each `plunger comprising the set carries a container ange engaging-foot 4At their laterally extended lends, the tie rods .20 carry-a bearing bracket 47|; `Abearing member -48 is `removably"securedto depend from the V'bracket 4'I'and has an oil receiving chamber 49 formed-in one Send thereof and closed `by a remov-able cap 50 and to which oil is delivered by tgavitf'y through a pipe or.l duct 15| from the resiervoir 2l, :avr sut'ablecutoff valve 52 being connected vin 'said pipe.-

i A fho'llow shaft 53 ris -rotatably supported -in the bearing-member 48 -with an end thereof communi- Y eating with '.thegzbearing chamber 49. 'Ihe 'other endof the hollow shaft. projects from the bearing andha's' a ihollo-w 4manifold rotor 54 `keyed I thereon, the-inner` -face of saidirotor'being closed rby airemovablecover'plate55 equipped with ythree ibearing sbossesr56 .axially alignedfwith the stub shafts 25 tand each `beingadapted to receive one v.bear-ing boss 56 carries a sealing ring 5"! foren- :gagingfthe respectivehubll and preventing leakagev .o f .oilfrom Vthe manifold rotor, and each sealing ring Vis :secured in place by a removable parting Arotation' to :the rotor plate Z13-.and for holding the individllaltub shafts V25 against'rol station iabout; their .axes so as to hold thevalve l units; in .a `perpendicular position during their l movementfwithytherotor plate. The mea-ns here- 1i-:disclosed includes .al-:rotor 59 secured to or; l forming apart of the plate 23 and-equipped with 1 .a gear rim portion kl!) .beyond which each Stub 1 i ds.: The extended end of each stub I shaft keel 'crank-5l secured thereon, and .the for .Grankstraddles a roller-equipped l atuli 'lproiootins from a soar 63 rotatably sup- 1 n ed atg-64 inithohouaiug 4l5 to rotate about 's'.spaooii fa distano@ below the .axis about W `ch-thelyplate and rotorl 23 59'rotates, as is be caused to .rotate in unison bey a sleeve t6v rotatably supported as at .61

'in the-housing I5.

t'abovanasorfibedf, rotation imparted toy the @3; will los transmitted through the pinion 'Each i tsttlustrataim Figures ofthearamngs.. 'me 1 m25' D@ ,.IJYQI-.l by Sprocket and yGlltllzl .nnactions :1.65 byY tl-1.o shaft I6, and the sears vegtofthe rotorgand plate A59, 23, and the passes beneath and between them, the feet 46 t reason of the-provision of the eguipment valve units will always be held in perpendicular position.

As has been previously stated, any suitable means for maintaining the perpendicular positions of the valve units may be employed, and another-mechanism suitable for imparting the desired movements to the individual stub shafts 25 is disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent to Warme & Blood 1,341,437 of May 25, 1920.

In operation, as the individual containers are moved along in spaced relation by the chain 8, 'either toward a packing machine into which tuna sh or similar products are to be filled into the cans, or from such a packing machine after packing has been accomplished, they will pass be-` neath-and between the rotor elements 23 and 54.A The rotor elements` are driven in timed relation with the passing containers, and as each container mounted at the lower ends of the plungers 44 of one of the valve units will engage the flange of theconta-iner and will be pushed upwardly by the moving container.v As the plungers are rpushed upwardly the respective valvemembers 35 will be Vunseated and oil will pour Out of the Valve discharge throat :334 into the containeras :long as the valve member remains unseated. The amount of roil to be filled Vinto individual containers will vary accordingv to the product and the size of the container. a

By utilizing the housing position adjusting .equipments H and |.4 the position ofthe valve units with respect to the feed rbed 5 .can be altered to accommodate rthe feeding :of cans :of different sizes or `for simultaneously altering the rduration of contact of all ofthe valve vunits with the individual containers soV as to vary *the amount of oil'dispensed thereinto. f

It will `also be obvious that by merelyadjusting the knurled heads 4I of the valvestems the positionsof the plungers 44 of the respective valve units can Abe altered so .as to alter theduration of contact of the individual unitsfwith .in-

-dividuallcontainers iIt is ofcourse to 'be understoodithat the de; tails of .structure and arrangement of parts may :be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit .and scope of. my invention.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a horizontally travel.-

Eling container feeding conveyor, of ahollow valve member, a rotor continuously rotatable about' a horizontal axis for moving said member in the plane of movement of said conveyor, means for feeding oil to the interior ofthe valve, means carried by the valve member and engageable with .containers on said conveyor for rreleasing oil Yfrom the valve member to flow into said containers, and means forvertically' adjusting the axis about which said .rotor rotates to alter the relation of the conveyor and said valve member 3. In apparatus of the character described, a rotor rotatable about a horizontal axis, a hollow valve'member carried by said rotor, means for controlling flow of oil from the valve into receiving containers, a manifold rotor rotatable coaxially with said first named rotor, said valve member being disposed between said rotors, means for supplying oil to the manifold rotor, and means for supplying oil from the manifold rotor to the valve, including a connection by which said manifold rotor is caused to move with the rst mentioned rotor and and the valve.

4. In apparatus of the character` described, a rotor rotatable about a horizontal axis, a hollow valve member carried by said rotor, means for controlling flow of oil from the valve into receiving containers, a manifold rotor rotatable coaxially with said first named rotor, said valve member being disposed between said rotors, means for supplying oil to the manifold rotor,

means for supplying oil from the manifold rotor to the valve, including a connection by which said manifold rotor is caused to move with the first mentioned rotor and the valve, and means for retaining the valve member in a vertical position during its movement with said rotors.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a rotor, a hollow valve member carried by said rotor, means for controlling flow of oil from the valve into receiving containers, a manifold rotor, means for supplying oil to the manifold rotor, and means for supplying oil from the manifold rotor to the valve, said last named means including a hollow bearing hub extending from and communicating with the interior of the valve member and extending into and rotatable relative to said manifold rotor.

6. In apparatus of the character described, a rotor, a hollow valve member carried by said rotor, means for controlling flow of oil from the valve into receiving containers, a manifold rotor, means for supplying oil to the manifold rotor, and means for supplying oil from the manifold rotor to the valve, said manifold oil supplying means including a hollow shaft to which the manifold rotor is secured and which communicates with the interior of the manifold rotor, a bearing in which said shaft is rotatably supported and having a chamber therein communicating with the interior of the shaft and means for delivering oil to said chamber.

7. In apparatus of the character described, a rotor, a hollow valve member carried by said rotor, means for controlling fiow of oil from the valve into receiving containers, a manifold rotor,

means for supplying oil to the manifold rotor, and means for supplying oil from the manifold rotor to the Valve, said last named means including a hollow bearing hub extending from and communicating with the interior of the valve member and extending into and rotatable relative to said manifold rotor, and said manifold oil supplying means including a hollow shaft to -which the manifold rotor is secured and which communicates with the interior of the manifold rotor, a bearing in which said shaft is rotatably supported and having a chamber therein cornmunicating with the interior of the shaft and means for delivering oil to said chamber.

8. In apparatus of the character described, a

rotor, a hollow valve member carried by said rotor, means for controlling flow of oil from the valve into receiving containers, a manifold rotor, means for supplying oil to the manifold rotor, means for supplying oil from the manifold rotor lto the valve, a .common Asupport for both said rotors, and means for adjusting said'support to vary the position of said valve relative to containers to be filled.

9. In apparatus of the character described, a rotor, means for imparting rotation to the rotor, a plurality of stub shafts rotatably mounted' in -equidistantly spaced relation about the rotor and projecting from one face thereof, means for holding each shaft against rotation about its axis during rotation of said rotor, a manifold rotor rotatably supported in parallel spaced relation to said rotor, a dispensing valve member supported on each shaft, means for causing the manifold rotor to rotate in unison with the first mentioned rotor, and means for delivering liquid to be dispensed to the manifold rotor and from it to each Valve member.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a rotor, means for imparting rotation to the rotor, a plurality of stub shafts rotatably mounted in equidistantly spaced relation about vthe rotor and projecting from one face thereof, means for holding each shaft against rotation about its axis during rotation of said rotor, a manifold rotor rotatably supported in parallel spaced relation to said rotor, a dispensing valve member supported on each shaft, means for causing the manifold rotor to rotate in unison with the first mentioned rotor, a hollow shaft on which said manifold rotor is Secured and which communicates with the interior of the manifold rotor, a bearing in which said hollow shaft is rotatably supported and having a chamber therein communicating with the interior of the manifold rotor through the hollow shaft, means for supplying liquid to be dispensed to said chamber, and a duct for delivering said liquid from the manifold rotor to each valve member.

1l. In apparatus of the character described', a rotor, means for imparting rotation to the rotor, a plurality of stub shafts rotatably mounted in equidistantly spaced relation about the rotor and projecting from one face thereof, means for holding each shaft against rotation about its axis during rotation of said rotor, a manifold rotor rotatably supported in parallel spaced relation to said rotor, a dispensing Valve member supported on each shaft, means for causing the manifold rotor to rotate in unison with the first mentioned rotor, means for delivering liquid to be dispensed to the manifold rotor and from it to each valve member, each said valve member comprising a hollow body having a discharge opening in its lower portion, a spring seated valve normally closing said opening and having a stem extending from said body, and means adjustably secured to said stem and engageable with containers for unseating said valve and controlling the amount of liquid to be dispensed into said containers.

12. In apparatus of the character described, a rotor, means for imparting rotation to the rotor, a plurality of stub shafts rotatably mounted in equidistantly spaced relation about the rotor and projecting from one face thereof, means for holding each shaft against rotation about its axis during rotation of said rotor, a manifold rotor rotatably supported in parallel spaced relation to said rotor, a dispensing valve member supported on each shaft, means for causing the manifold rotor to rotate in unison with the rst mentioned rotor, and means for delivering liquid to be dispensed to the manifold rotor and from it to each valve member, `each said valve member comprising a hollow body having a discharge opening in'its lower portion, a spring seated valve normally Iclosing saidvopening and having a stem extending from said body, a plunger member yoke connected with said valve stem.v

and '-en'gageable with containers for unseating said valve and Acausing the dispensing of liquid into Vsaid containers, saidl stem being rotatably and threadably connected with said yoke wherevby the position of the plunger can be altered tovary the amount of liquid to be dispensed.

y13. The combination with a container feeding conveyor, of a hollow valve member, means for moving said member in an orbital path in the plane of movement of said conveyor, means 'for feeding oil to the interior of the valve, means carried by the valvemember and engageable with containers on said conveyor for releasing oil fromy the valve member to flow into said containers, and means for individually or collectively adjusting .the duration of the engagement 'ofy the valve members with the containers to `control the amount'of oil to be dispensed into the individual containers.

14. The combination with a horizontally travelling container feeding conveyor, of a hollow ascenso valve member, a motorV supporting said valve member and continuously rotatable' about a horizontal axis for moving said valve member over containers on said conveyor, means for feeding oil to the interior of they valve member, and means carried by the valve member and engageable with containers on said conveyor forl releasing oil from the valve member toy flow into said containers 15. 'Ihe combination with a horizontally trav'- elling container feeding conveyor, of a hollow valve member, a rotor supporting said valve member and continuously rotatable about a horizontal axis for moving said valve member over containers on said conveyor, means for feeding oil to the interior of the valve member, means carried by the valve member and engageable with containers on said conveyor for releasing oil from the valve member' to flow into said containers, and means for adjusting the position of said valve member carried means to alter the point of engagement thereof with containers on said conveyor thereby to alter the amount of Y oil to be dispensed into each saidV container.

GERALD L. ARDRON; Y 

